• Bobby Beausoleil Granted Parole

SAN QUENTIN, Aug. 8 – Bruce Davis was denied parole today at a hearing held at San Quentin. This marks the 28th time Davis has been denied parole since he first became eligible in 1977.

Davis, 81, is currently serving a sentence of seven years to life for his role in the murders of Gary Hinman and Donald “Shorty” Shea.

Davis has been found suitable for parole seven times since 2010, but each decision was overturned during executive review.

Davis will not have another hearing until 2027.

Apr. 16 – A month after Leslie Van Houten won freedom through California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal, Patricia Krenwinkel was in Los Angeles County Superior Court filing a petition of her own.

On June 30, 2023, Krenwinkel filed a writ of habeas corpus, challenging Governor Gavin Newsom’s reversal of her 2022 parole suitability finding.

Her petition argued that Gov. Newsom failed to give any weight to her experience of intimate partner battering; or adequate consideration to youth and elderly parole. Additionally, she argued that use of insight as a basis for parole denial is unconstitutional.

Krenwinkel, 76, was scheduled to have her subsequent parole hearing at the end of last year. It was postponed because she was waiting on the court to rule on her writ.

In January, Judge William C. Ryan denied Krenwinkel’s petition stating:
“This court is not entitled to reweigh the evidence before the Governor; rather, it is tasked with determining whether the record contains some evidence in support of the Governor’s decision. The court concludes that it does.”

Last week, Krenwinkel waived her right to a parole hearing for one year. It is expected that she will pursue this matter in the appellate court where Van Houten prevailed last year.

STATEMENT FROM MARY XJIMENEZ, INFORMATION OFFICER FOR CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITION

Jan. 18 – Bruce Davis’ 34th parole suitability hearing that was scheduled for today has been continued due to insufficient information. The continuance is under California Code of Regulations, title 15, § 2253, subd. (e). The hearing will be rescheduled in 6-12 months, depending on how long it takes to gather the additional information.

UPDATE – Bruce Davis’ parole hearing is tentatively scheduled to resume Thursday, August 8, 2024.

Sept. 15 – Patricia Krenwinkel’s upcoming parole hearing has been postponed due to scheduling issues. Krenwinkel, 75, was slated to have a hearing in December, will not appear before the board until May of next year. Krenwinkel has been denied parole 15 times since becoming eligible in February of 1977. The Board of Parole Hearings found her suitable for parole at her last hearing, but the grant was reversed by Governor Gavin Newsom a few months later.

Updated 9/15/23 – The reason for the postponement: There is current, pending litigation challenging the Governor’s reversal of my last grant of parole in the Los Angeles County Superior Court that will not be resolved by November 2023.

Updated 4/9/24 – Patricia Krenwinkel has voluntarily waived her right to a parole hearing for one year. Her next hearing is now tentatively scheduled for June 2025.